Eragrostis megalosperma

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 60–120 cm long. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty, or lacking; 2–4 mm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; involute; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3–30 cm long; 0.7–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle axis smooth; glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.25–3 mm long; smooth, or scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–15 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 4–11 mm long; 1–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.25–2 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous. Lemma apex acute. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl NSW 1994.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.